Purvis Thrilled With Decision

NC State's persistence paid off when it came to Raleigh (NC) Upper Room combo guard Rodney Purvis. The five-star talent sensed just how big of a priority he was for the Wolfpack.

NC State's persistence paid off when it came to Raleigh (NC) Upper Room combo guard Rodney Purvis. The five-star talent sensed just how big of a priority he was for the Wolfpack.

During the evaluation periods in the summer, Wolfpack coaches attended every game that Purvis played. They used all their allotted visits and continued to let him know that he was a key recruit in coach Gottfried's first recruiting class.

"They were at every single one of my games," said Purvis. "That stood out to me. If coach Gottfried couldn't be there he would have two guys from the staff there.

"That right there let me know how much they wanted me. They went after me hard, and I wanted to reward them with my commitment."

Because Purvis lived just a few miles from NC State's campus, it only made sense that the Wolfpack would amp up their interest. Gottfried assigned assistant coach Orlando Early to the recruitment of Purvis, and Early certainly left an impression.

"I have a great relationship with coach Early," Purvis stated. "It's great. I can call him anytime something is on my mind, and we'll just talk about it. I can talk to him about anything. He played a key role in my recruitment."

Purvis stated that he let the coaches know of his decision a few days prior to going public with his choice. What was their reaction?

"It came down to me believing in them. They are definitely trying to turn things around at State, and I love being a part of that. They are going to put me in position to make plays and let me play through my mistakes as a freshman. I just want to help them win."

Now Purvis hopes that some other top recruits in his class will join him. He is a consensus top-20 prospect nationally, and the Wolfpack also holds a commitment from standout Oak Hill (VA) point guard Tyler Lewis.

A few weeks back NC State hosted Purvis and two other top targets, Brice Johnson and T.J. Warren, for visits. Purvis, who acknowledged that he is close with both players, hopes they will join him in Raleigh.

"That visit was great," he said. "All we did was talk about being teammates... we all seemed to be on the same page. So, I'm just waiting.

"I would love to play with all those guys, but I'm going to be respectful. They've got other family members too. I'd love to play with them, but they've got to do what is best for them. If they don't feel like NC State is best for them then they will have my support no matter what."

With his decision behind him, Purvis can focus on his senior year and academics. Because he is so close to the Wolfpack's campus, he hopes to make it over as much as possible during the basketball season.

"I want to stay around the guys so when I get there the chemistry will already be there," he said. "I think it's going to be great whenever I visit... now each time it's like I'm a part of the Wolfpack family. That's fun."